Rodding, Drain Cleaning, and Clogged Pipes

One of the most common plumbing problems is a slow-draining pipe or, worse, water backing up from a floor drain or tub due to a blockage.

For simplicity, we'll use the term "building drain" to refer to the main pipe that carries wastewater from your house to the city sewer. Every house has one building drain that connects to the city sewer system before the wastewater travels to a water reclamation facility for treatment. Before leaving your house through the building drain, wastewater travels through branch lines. These branch lines are typically connected individually to sinks, toilets, floor drains, tubs—basically, any plumbing fixture in your home that discharges wastewater. These individual branches all connect to the main building drain that goes to the sewer.

Understanding this system helps you logically diagnose where a blockage is causing water to back up. While diagnosing plumbing problems can be challenging, especially in complex systems, the basic principle remains the same.

Here are two examples of backups to help you understand your plumbing: If water is coming up your basement floor drain when you use water throughout your home, the building drain going to the city sewer is most likely blocked. Blockages are often caused by tree roots, a common issue in older building drains. Another issue could be an accumulation of waste due to low flow or flushing inappropriate items. If water is coming up your basement floor drain only when you use the laundry, it most likely means that the branch line connecting the floor drain and laundry is blocked. A buildup of grease and oils is common over time. Cleaning this branch line with a drain snake should resolve the issue.

Pinpointing plumbing problems can help you avoid messy situations and be more informative when scheduling an appointment with a plumber, allowing them to bring the appropriate drain cleaning equipment.